Tasman rugby endures rollercoaster first 10 years
When the Tasman Makos ran on to Lansdowne Park in Blenheim on July, 30, 2006 a brave, new era in top of the South Island rugby began.
The concept and motivation behind New Zealand's newest rugby union was simple enough. An amalgamation of two provincial unions - Nelson Bays and Marlborough. Both boasted more than 100 years of history, and had battled it out in the lower divisions of the National Provincial Championship [NPC] with a fierce on-field rivalry only neighbours can provide.
Together they would form the Tasman Rugby Union (TRU), bringing the best of provincial rugby to the people of Marlborough and Nelson and offering Tasman players a pathway to the top, while remaining based at home.
But putting that plan into practice proved anything but simple.
A bloated player roster, star signings, an abundance of staff and - because they represented two sub-unions - a long list of Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough representative teams that all needed funding, represented a big number on the outgoings side of the ledger.
Then there were the upgrades to Lansdowne Park, imposed on the TRU by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), which crippled the fledging union.
In January 2007, the TRU had no option but to raise their mortgage over Lansdowne Park - an asset the MRU brought to their marriage with Nelson Bays - by $600,000 because redevelopments came in $440,000 over budget.
The union suffered a $553,388 loss in its first year of operation.
The MRU saw themselves as carrying the burden of Tasman's mismanagement and their relationship soured.
In Nelson, the TRU and Nelson City Council (NCC) were at loggerheads over funding proposed upgrades to the city's Trafalgar Park.
On the field the Makos finished their inaugural season winning three of 10 matches and in 2007 won just two. They were disappointing records, but there were signs of on-field competitiveness - if the union could just stay afloat.
The union began to cut its cloth to fit the situation. Moves included a self-imposed salary cap, a reduction in contracted players from 55 to 28 and lowered funding for the representative programmes.
Looming over all these decisions was the issue of the stadium-sized weight around the TRU's neck, which the union's bankers suggested needed to be sold to balance the books.
By June 2008, Lansdowne Park had been bought by the Marlborough District Council to ensure it remained a recreational area and rugby ground for the region.
The loss of their prized asset hurt many rugby supporters in Marlborough and the MRU wanted out.
Tasman's future grew even murkier in August that year when the NZRU announced its division one competition would be reduced from 14 teams to 12 the following season. Tasman was now under attack from outside and within.
In the middle of it all the Tasman Makos challenged for the biggest prize in New Zealand rugby, the Ranfurly Shield, suffering a narrow 26-20 loss in Wellington. In the same city, just two days before the match, Tasman officials made a last ditch plea to the NZRU to save their union.
The NZRU took notice and the Makos were given a stay of execution - with the proviso they sort out their infighting and their finances.
That was no easy feat.
The MRU played hardball, making sure the TRU presented them with a balanced budget before pledging their continued support. Even then, Tasman wasn't saved until the 11th hour.
As the minutes ticked down to the NZRU's deadline to prove themselves financially sound, a rescue package arrived from anonymous benefactors. They would later be revealed as a consortium of the Marlborough District Council, Nelson City, the Crusaders and Nelson Pine Industries, a long-time commercial partner of Nelson Bays and Tasman Rugby.
The Makos had survived their third year despite suffering some massive wounds. And their fourth year was just as dangerous.
Tasman was not the only provincial union in financial strife after the NPC was expanded in 2006 and, pressured by the larger provincial unions, the NZRU again decided to reduce the competition, this time to 10 teams.
Tasman looked sure to be culled.
An outcry of public support for Tasman was highlighted by a "Save the Makos" campaign driven by the Marlborough Express and Nelson Mail, which came to a crescendo when Steve Tew attended the final Makos' game of the 2009 season in Blenheim. He was presented a petition signed by 14,000 supporters in Nelson and Marlborough keen on keeping their team in the top division.
The Makos lost that match 22-14 to Wellington to finish the season with six wins from 13 outings. The players said their goodbyes, not knowing if they would have a team to return to in 2010.
The outpouring of support from fans in the smaller unions persuaded Tew and the NZRU to maintain the 14-team competition - a decision announced in December 2009.
This year the TRU will celebrate its 10th anniversary, and is strong and healthy on and off the field, despite – some would say because of - narrow scrapes with death in their formative years.
They have recorded profits in four of the past five years and in 2013 the on-field results finally came, winning the second-tier ITM Cup championship title in Nelson.
Last year they made it to the premiership final, putting them on the big stage where they have made headlines for all the right reasons.
There are still those people, mainly in Marlborough, with reservations about the union and its viability, and they will likely go to their graves harbouring those concerns.
But the tide has turned. The doubters have become muted by on and off-field success.
Where previously young players mentioned playing for Marlborough or Nelson Bays as the pinnacle of their provincial aspirations, now they hope to be Makos, citing the likes of Marty Banks, Shane Christie or Joe Wheeler as their heroes.
Given its inception as a marriage of convenience, it is no wonder the Tasman alliance has had its share of ups and downs. But with both partners now prepared to give and take, some shared history to build on and the smell of success in their nostrils, they can look forward to the next 10 years with growing confidence.
TIMELINE
February 2005: Marlborough and Nelson Bays rugby stakeholders vote unanimously to support a joint venture bid to play in the Air New Zealand Cup
June 2005: A combined Marlborough, Nelson Bays side is accepted into the ANZC, providing grounds are upgraded
August 2005: Rugby manager Todd Blackadder, CEO Lee Germon and coach Dennis Brown named – Tasman name adopted
December 2005: Tasman officially becomes New Zealand's newest provincial union.
July 2006: Lansdowne Park upgrade signed off. Makos play their first ANZC match at Lansdowne Park, against North Harbour
January 2007: TRU borrow $600,000 to service $2.85m mortgage
October 2007: Blackadder replaces Brown as Makos coach
February 2008: Peter Barr replaces Lee Germon as CEO
April 2008: TRU announce crippling $3.149m debt at AGM
July 2008: Marlborough District Council steps in and buys Lansdowne Park off the TRU for $3.45 million
August 2008: NZRU dump Tasman and Northland from the ANZC in 2009.
September 2008: Tasman appeal to NZRU to remain in ANZC
September 2008: Tasman given a stay of execution, providing provinces resolve differences and present a sustainable budget for 2009
October 2008: TRU board resigns en-masse effective from AGM in January. Nick Patterson replaces Max Spence as chairman
October 2008: NZRU provides rescue package loan of $340,000, saving Tasman from having to fold and pull out of the ANZC halfway through 2008 season
October 2008: Makos reach quarterfinals of ANZC for the first time – losing to Canterbury
November 2008: TRU stakeholders meeting votes to present financial plan to the NZRU in a bid to stay in the competition
December 2008: TRU given until December 18 to come up with a $300,000 budget shortfall or be kicked out
December 2008: Golden Edge and the Crusaders underwrite TRU for $300,000. MDC and NCC underwrite TRU for $75,000 – NZRU accepts Tasman back into the ANZC for 2009
February 2009: Kieran Keane and Bevan Cadwallader replace Blackadder as Makos coaches
July 2009: NZRU decide to return to 10 team competition.
July 2010: Leon MacDonald replaces Cadwallader as assistant coach, alongside Keane
October, 2013: Makos win ITM Cup championship by beating Hawke's Bay at Trafalgar Park
October, 2014: Makos reach ITM Cup final. Lose to Taranaki in New Plymouth
